Pages: 63-72

The images on the reliefs from Trajan’s column show us motifs of decoration on barbarian armour, partially similar to those that we can see on the Roman decorated armour that has survived to this day. In this regard, the question arises whether there was an influence of Roman armament tradition on barbarian armament, or some motifs were borrowed by the Romans from the barbarians? A chronological and iconographic analysis of various decoration motifs can shed light on the path of borrowing and mutual influences of the Roman and barbarian armament traditions. An analysis of the helmets’ decor suggests that the monument depicts not only Sarmatian, but also Parthian helmets, and the artists who worked on the reliefs of the Trajan’s column used real captured barbarian specimens as models.

Keywords: Roman Empire, Trajan’s column, Sarmatians, Parthians, armament decoration, helmets, defensive armour

Information about author:

Andrey Negin (Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. Institute of International Relations and World History of the Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N. I. Lobachevsky. Ulyanov St., 2, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]